Very few people genuinely enjoy or find networking an easy task. Most of us must push ourselves to do it. Often the last thing you want to do after working all day is to attend a networking event or send out emails or invites to your networking base, but networking can be the best way to find golden opportunities. Below are some basic tips in networking that can improve your career.
1. Know your existing network
You probably have a network in place but not aware of who these individuals might be connected to or how they might help you. First, take inventory of who you know. Write down your friends, neighbors, co-workers, colleagues, and even acquaintances or those you know through social media.
Do research on LinkedIn or other online sites to see who they are connected to and to discover their interests. By creating a profile on LinkedIn and gaining some connections, you can easily see mutual connections, as well as determine interests such as professional groups. You can use this information later when deciding which professional organizations to join. Evaluate those on your list to determine who you want to get to know better or if they know someone you want to include in your network.
2. Increase your network
You may discover a need to cast a net to find more people. One way to do this is by getting involved with professional organizations. Instead of joining a group to attend a few events, consider signing up for a committee. By volunteering for a committee, you will meet with the same individuals on a regular basis and build better relationships.
Other ideas include talking with co-workers to see what events or associations they find valuable. You might even discover events or organizations your company is either hosting or sponsoring. Get involved and go, even if it’s volunteering at a local food bank. Another good way to find folks is to leverage your alumni association. Many include an organized networking community or offer events that you can join.
3. Be patient and do not prejudge someone as unimportant
Creating a strong relationship with someone takes time, as well as meeting and finding those who might help you. While you can research and try to understand who will attend an event or whether they are in a position to assist you, the harsh reality is that you may not know. You may need to attend several events or networking opportunities before you see any fruits to your labor.
When attending an event or meeting, treat everyone with respect, even if you think the person may not be someone you want to network with. You never know someone’s connections, plus it’s just the right thing to do.
4. Build and maintain relationships
As a way to build and maintain relationships, keep up with what is going on in your industry so you can leverage a discussion. While it’s nice to get to know someone on a personal level, do not expect them to share their inner self or become a deep, personal friend. Steer conversations away from anything negative. Be careful and selective of what you say about colleagues, bosses, and mutual connections.
Always look for ways to help your contacts. Listen to them and look for opportunities. For example, a business contact once informed me of how he struggled to remember his wedding anniversary that was coming up within the next month. I jotted down the date and texted him the morning of his anniversary, reminding him to pick up flowers for his wife. This one simple act was one of my best business development decisions, and it only took a few minutes.
5. Establish consistency
You can be the most personable individual who adds a ton of value to others, but if they don’t hear from you, you are soon forgotten. A lack of consistency, and follow up, can destroy hours of networking. Keep a list of people who you need to reconnect with on a regular basis by putting reminder dates for yourself in your Outlook calendar. When you enter a date reminder, you can also put a note of something unique about the person, such as a trip or information about their family. This way when you see them, you can ask or follow up on the last conversation.
Before you attend a networking event or conference, check to see if you can find the attendee list online or email the organizer to see if they will provide it. Go over the list to see if you know who might be attending, send them an email and let them know you are going. This might lead to an opportunity to meet separately for a longer conversation.